A Conversation on/with Saudi Arabian Applied Linguistics

A Conversation on/with Saudi Arabian Applied Linguistics: Insights from Vision 2030

Centre for Linguistics, Language Education and Acquisition Research (CLLEAR)

University of Southampton

The Centre for Linguistics, Language Education and Acquisition Research (CLLEAR) at the University of Southampton is pleased to announce an upcoming online conference entitled “ A Conversation on/with Saudi Arabian Applied Linguistics: Insights from Vision 2030 ” to be held on 29–30 June 2026 via Microsoft Teams.

This two-day event will offer a collaborative platform for scholars, postgraduate researchers, and PhD supervisors from both the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia to share and discuss emerging work in Applied Linguistics, in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Our aim is to highlight the rich joint research that has developed over more than a decade in which the UK and Ireland have welcomed postgraduate researchers from Saudi Arabia, and to reflect on the valuable learning and exchange that has taken place.

The conference aims to encourage a multivocal academic dialogue and promote research exchange that contributes to ongoing educational and linguistic growth in Saudi Arabia. It will cover a range of topics that are of interest to applied linguistics, including, but not limited to ,the following:

• Sociolinguistics
• Language Education
• Teacher Identity
• Second Language Acquisition
• English as a Lingua Franca
• Global Englishes
• E-learning and Digital Communication
• Language and Media
• Corpus Linguistics
• Discourse Analysis
• Linguistic Ethnography
• Intercultural Communication

This Conference Aims to:

1. Map out the research conducted by Saudi academics abroad and explore synergies in research interests and epistemologies.

2. Highlight the intercultural connections established between Saudi Arabia and European countries, such as the UK and Ireland.

3. Understand how the presence of Saudi academics in English-speaking countries is shaping the field of Applied Linguistics.

The Conference Programme:

The conference programme will feature researchers in applied linguistics. Alongside keynote presentations, the conference will include contributions from postgraduate researchers based in universities across the UK. Discussions will be led by current PhD supervisors from the University of Southampton, supporting a rich exchange of perspectives and academic expertise.

Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Tariq Elyas
  - King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  - AHSS Global Fellow, Queen’s University, Belfast, United Kingdom
  - Research Fellow, Prince Sultan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  

• Dr. Sarah Hopkyns
  - University of St Andrews, United Kingdom
  - University College London, United Kingdom
  - Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, United Kingdom
  
  
• Dr. Ali H. Al-Hoorie
  - Saudi TESOL Association

Two roundtable sessions will also be held to encourage critical reflection on how international research experiences intersect with the Saudi education system under Vision 2030. Participants will be invited to engage in an open dialogue and reflect on the contribution of applied linguistics research to the educational transformation in Saudi Arabian and UK universities.

Attendance is free of charge, but pre-registration is required. The event aims to bring together approximately 100 attendees and 15–20 presenters in an interactive academic environment.

Call for Abstract Submissions:

Scholars, postgraduate researchers, and academics interested in research presentations and poster presentations are invited to submit a 300-word abstract through the following Google Form: A Conversation on/with Saudi Arabian Applied Linguistics Conference Participation Form

Abstract submission deadline is 28 February 2026. Participants will be notified by 15 April 2026.

Further details regarding the detailed programme will be shared following registration.

We invite you to join us in this timely and engaging conference to explore how research, international collaboration, and academic mobility are shaping applied linguistics in the context of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Important Dates:

• Abstract submission deadline: 28 February 2026
• Notification of acceptance: 15 April 2026
• Attendees registration opening date: 1 May 2026
• Conference dates: 29 - 30 June 2026

For inquiries, please contact the organising committee at: cllear26conference@gmail.com

You can follow the conference account on X for updates: @Cllear2026Conf

You can also follow the conference account on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cllear-conference-084b78397